My Mom is 81 years old. Should she have open-heart surgery?

Question

She has had an angiogram and has a blocked heart valve as well as leaking arteries. She has to make the decision whether to have open heart surgery. She goes through spells of finding it very hard to breathe and then can't do anything.
Should she have this very serious operation?

Answer 1

That's something you and her should discuss with her doctor.

Answer 2

This is the wrong place to get the right answer. I'd say that such a high risk surgery is not appropriate, even for an otherwise healthy person much younger than 81. I know it may sound inhumane but that's my opinion. My MOM went for Carotid artery surgery about a year ago and had a heart attack during the procedure, she was otherwise healthy. The doctors had to implant a pacemaker and the several weeks later perform the carotid surgery. I wish you and your MOM the very best!

Answer 3

If she's in good health otherwise, I would say yes she should have the surgery because with her condition it doesn't sound like she would have a very comfortable (and maybe not that long) rest of her life.....so I would say it would be better to risk the surgery and take the chance of her recovering from it OK at her age, then to let her suffer with a heart that needs help. Good luck to you both.

Answer 4

You should sit down and talk to her doctor and the surgeon about this. At her age the surgery could very possibly kill her. We had a lady of 92 have the surgery and did well, but she was in otherwise excellent health. Don't do anything without checking all the options.

Answer 5

She should consider what she hopes to achieve from such a serious surgery. How much longer will she live without the surgery? How much longer will she live if she has it? I know that she can't actually answer those questions; they're more rhetorical. She should ask herself if the pain, risk and recovery from the operations will be outweighed by relief of her symptoms for the time that she has left.

Answer 6

If she is going to have angioplasty and has no history of bad reactions to anesthesia I say it can only improve her quality of life. If the doctors are talking about full-blown bypass surgery I would get a second opinion. My father has had 3 different bypass surgeries and countless angioplasties(he has heart disease) The angio. is not that hard on a patient, but the bypass surgeries took weeks to recover. We didn't think he'd recover from the last one. Have they prescribed lasix for your mom? It sounds like she is suffering from congestive heart failure. If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me.

Answer 7

my grandma was 82, a smoker, and has severe anxiety disorder, she only had about 20% chance of survival without the surgery....see is now 90 and her heart is doing good. my father in law was 55, a non smoker....he has had some major problems
this is something that your mom has to decide, she needs to talk to her doctor, her family....and make the decision that is right for her...

Answer 8

YES!! If her overall health is good! Make certain she has the best doctors. The surgery is a lot less risky now days and medical science has come a long way!

Answer 9

i would have to say yes in the hopes to give her a better life and maybe prolong it for a little while longer. With out the surgery, shell probably die soon. good luck and take care.

Answer 10

For some reason, this scenario sounds familiar. Lord, I come to You now, asking that you be with the nephew, the mother, and this entire family. Show them mercy and love. I pray his child survives. All in accordance with Thy Will. In Jesus' Name, thank You, Father. Amen. † Comforting Prayer Warrior †

Answer 11

Only her doctor(s) can tell her that. If her body is strong enough to survive the anesthesia and the surgery, she probably should get it.